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November 1863. Culpeper, Virginia (vicinity). "Contrabands [runaway slaves]." The man on the right is identified in this photo dated October 1863 in Bealeton, Va., as "John Henry, servant, at headquarters, 3d Army Corps, Army of the Potomac." Wet plate glass negative by Timothy H. O'Sullivan. Photographs from the main Eastern theater of war, General Meade in Virginia. View full size.
I am so glad that these two young men escaped slavery. I hope they were able to have some kind of decent life, that included wives and children. They probably had no contact with their parents or siblings. That there were people like three of my adopted children who were considered to be someone's property just blows my mind.
I think our friend on the right is wearing the civil war version of Uggs.
Not the tidiest camp, with peach tins scattered about. There must be a cobbler in the making.
If you don't like their biscuits, you can always lob them at the enemy.
The two pics probably weren't taken awfully far apart in time. In both, the open flap on the tent's right side has the exact same wrinkleage.
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